The Stonemason Ostracon is a figured-
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
ostracon from the
Ramesside
The New Kingdom, also referred to as the Egyptian Empire, is the period in ancient Egyptian History of Ancient Egypt, history between the sixteenth century BC and the eleventh century BC, covering the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt, Eighteenth, Ni ...
period of
Ancient Egypt,
19–
20th
20 (twenty; Roman numeral XX) is the natural number following 19 and preceding 21. A group of twenty units may also be referred to as a score.
In mathematics
*20 is a pronic number.
*20 is a tetrahedral number as 1, 4, 10, 20.
*20 is the ba ...
Dynasties.
The figured-ostracon is made in outline form with black and (faint)-red paint-(ink). It is a sketchpad ostracon, as sections of red lines remain unfilled, as well as finalized black lines show adjacent to the faint reds. Minor sections of a red frame line remain.
The unflattering figured-character of the stonemason is bald, paunched, with facial stubble, in a leaning-over, and awkward pose. It is a caricature scene, as in a
cartoon
A cartoon is a type of visual art that is typically drawn, frequently animated, in an unrealistic or semi-realistic style. The specific meaning has evolved over time, but the modern usage usually refers to either: an image or series of images ...
. The Stonemason is holding his
chisel
A chisel is a tool with a characteristically shaped cutting edge (such that wood chisels have lent part of their name to a particular grind) of blade on its end, for carving or cutting a hard material such as wood, stone, or metal by hand, stru ...
in his left hand and his wooden Egyptian
mallet
A mallet is a tool used for imparting force on another object, often made of rubber or sometimes wood, that is smaller than a maul or beetle, and usually has a relatively large head. The term is descriptive of the overall size and proport ...
in his right hand.
Ostracon reverse
While the obverse has the Stonemason, the reverse tells an entirely different story. A
register
Register or registration may refer to:
Arts entertainment, and media Music
* Register (music), the relative "height" or range of a note, melody, part, instrument, etc.
* ''Register'', a 2017 album by Travis Miller
* Registration (organ), the ...
of hieroglyphs is across the bottom of the ostracon, below a drawing of the snake,
Meretseger; apparently, the ostracon was once larger, because a seated person (only the knees visible), but outstretched arms (hands) in adoration, are before the snake goddess Meretseger. (See hieroglyph:
man-seated: arms in adoration (hieroglyph)) More hieroglyphs are at the upper region of the picture, but the ostracon has discoloration that obscures it.
External links
PhotoFitzwilliam Museum write-up, Stonemason Ostracon
References
*Hagen, R. Hagen, R. ''Egypt: People, Gods, Pharaohs,'' Rose-Marie & Rainer Hagen, Barnes and Noble Books, 2003, (originally: Taschen, GmbH, Koln, c 2003, 1999); pg. 86. (14 x 13 cm, Photo: 1.2X, slightly larger than ''natural size.'') (hardcover, )
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stonemason Ostracon
Ostracon